Delightful Destina

Pattern: Farbenmix Destina. I've loved the look of this pattern from the very first time that I saw it. It's one of those patterns that is just made for mixing fabrics.

Fabrics: assorted Stenzo and Hilco poplins. I had originally thought this dress would be more pink, but when I laid out the fabrics this was the combination that came together.

I dug into my stash and used some ribbon, and I used my snap press to put snaps on the front.  I asked Moo her preference, and she chose snaps.

Size 134/140, so it should fit Missy Moo for ages. I'm thinking a pair of leggings in campan or campante will come along soon to go with the dress.

Excuse the expression on her face. It was bright to her eyes since the lounge lizard has been inside all day.






Moo wanted a Farbenmix tag sewn on.  I have a little collection of them from the patterns that I've purchased.  She looks through them every so often.  Of course she picked the one where I only had one, and I wanted it for myself.  I think she has a sixth sense about those things!


I just noticed that you can see the topstitching quite well in this photos.  I happened to find a spool of turquoise topstitching thread which I used for all of the topstitching.  It makes it stand out a bit more.

Don't forget to check out all of the fabulous auctions and raffles.   The tally of funds raised as of today (it will be more as the auctions and raffles haven't closed) is about $45,000.  Isn't that fantastic!

Auction #2 Covered Journal & Key Fob

Up for offer is a covered journal and a key fob.

One denim journal cover with embroidery and ribbons.  It comes with a spiral bound A5 journal (acid free, blank pages).   There are 3 different journals to choose from:



A key fob made up in the colour of webbing and ribbon that you choose.



Ok, just to make it clear.  I worry because there are multiple pictures.  The auction is for ONE covered journal and ONE key fob.  I will make the key fob up to the winner's specifications.  I have the webbing colours above and a good size collection of Farbenmix ribbons that I can use. 
Details
1.  Bidding will start at $20 (Australian).
2.  You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this blog post with your bid amount and email address.  Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.  
3.  Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
4.  This auction is open to everyone, however $20 will be charged for International addresses.  Postage is FREE for Australian residents.
5.  The auction begins NOW and will END at 9pm AEST on Monday 24th January 2011.
6.  At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner (please make sure your bid comment includes your email address).  The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send me proof of payment via email.  Once proof of payment has been received, I will post the book to you.
7.  Thank you for participating and happy bidding!

Auction #1 Sewing Clothes Kids Love

A brand new copy of Sewing Clothes Kids Love by Nancy Langdon and Sabine Pollehn





Here's a description of the book:
This is a book of colorful and imaginative children’s clothes to sew, designed with kids in mind. The authors are designers and owners of two popular pattern companies for kid’s clothes—Farbenmix and Studio Tantrum, known in the sewing community for their creativity, versatility, and fit. This collection of exclusive patterns, included with the book, offers step-by-step instruction for making boys’ and girls’ clothing with a variety of fabric styles and decorative embellishment—including embroidery, patchwork, and trims. The patterns for pants, tops, skirts, and dresses include variations for long and short hemlines and sleeves, various necklines, and adjustable lengths. The patterns are sized from 18 months to kid’s size 12.

If you are a reader of my blog, you know that I adore almost everything Farbenmix and Studio Tantrum.  This book has some really fantastic patterns that can be sewn up into something simple or can be embellished to make something special.  I will say that it is really suited more to those who sew for girls as the boy patterns are light on.   I wish I could say it was a signed copy (it's not), but I can say it was touched by Nancy because she sent it to me.

In addition to the book I have embroidered some patches to get you on your way with with some fun Euro styling!   Nic of Luzia Pimpinella has given me permission to stitch out these patches as part of this auction.   (terms of use for these embroideries does not allow me to make patches to sell, so you will not see me selling these in the future.  I can only use the embroidery designs on finished garments.)  As far as I know Zaubermasche is the only place you can purchase Nic's designs stitched out as patches. 



And I've thrown in 3 metres of coordinating ribbon (3 x 1m cuts).
Patches only need to be fused and sewn onto whatever you desire, tops, skirts, bags, etc! 

I'd put the over all value of these items book, ribbons and patches around AU$95 (based on the price of the book from the annoying Fishpond site, price of the ribbons per metre from Crafty Mamas and the cost of similar patches from Zaubermasche).



Details
1.  Bidding will start at $25 (Australian).
2.  You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this blog post with your bid amount and email address.  Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.  
3.  Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
4.  This auction is open to everyone, however $30 will be charged for International addresses.  Postage is FREE for Australian residents.
5.  The auction begins NOW and will END at 9pm AEST on Monday 24th January 2011.
6.  At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner (please make sure your bid comment includes your email address).  The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send me proof of payment via email.  Once proof of payment has been received, I will post the book to you.
7.  Thank you for participating and happy bidding!

Gossamer Dreams stocking tonight!

I really should have mentioned this a while ago, but with everything going on up in Queensland I've been distracted.  I am a guest stockist with the fabulous ladies at Gossamer Dreams this month.  The theme for January is Eden.

I've created a series of tops using Jolijou's Florierende Frolleins.  I don't normally use these designs on items for sale because they are "stitch heavy" in embroidery speak.  Miss Daisy has just over 25000 stitches.  More stitches = more time = more thread.


These designs also have a lot of colours in the designs and take an hour to stitch out.  That time doesn't include me picking thread colours.  Each design comes with recommended colours, but it is not unusual for me to go through and change colours in the design so that it coordinates with the fabrics that I am using.   Actually it is the norm for me to change the colours!    Because of the extra time that it takes for me to stitch out these designs these tops cost a bit more than the usual embroidered Antonia tops.

Miss Daisy is amongst the flowers on this tunic length Amelie top with a hood.   Size 7/8 (Euro 122/128)

Mollie is a bit over 130cm tall to give you an idea of fit.

Shiva is on the front of an ocean blue colour raglan sleeve top.  The sleeves on this top are a mandala print which was the inspiration to use Miss Shiva.  The Stenzo mandala print is one of my most favourite fabrics.  Gitta has a relaxed, roomy fit.  The top is a size 9/10 (Euro 134/140).


Tulipina just screams for red and turquoise.   This top is the Farbenmix Svenja pattern.  It's a very sweet A-line tunic top.  The top is a size 3/4 (Euro 98/104).  Will is modeling for me and he's a size 110/116 which is why the top looks small on him. 



I also created a dress and a skirt using Farmers Market fabrics. 
An Insa in size 5/6 (110/116)Each panel of the skirt is a different fabric.  The overskirt is trimmed with a ruffle and the underskirt is finished with ric rac.

This skirt was very much inspired by Lola Nova's lovely vintage fabric Insa.

Apple Roxy, size 5/6 (Euro 110/116)




I am also working on some things for an auction that I will have here on my blog as part of the auctions Toni is organising for the Flood Relief Fund.  I'll hopefully have the details of that tomorrow morning.

And a HUGE thank you to Karen who bid on and won the Strawberry Set that I had up for auction at Possum Pouches!

Please check out the auctions at Possum Pouches

I have a very sweet strawberry set up for auction.  All proceeds go to the Queensland Flood Relief Appeal. 

The set is a size 3/4. 

In addition to Possum Pouches Toni Coward of Make it Perfect is coordinating more auctions of handmade goodness and so are Handmade Kids & Rudy & the Dodo. 

I'd like to do more.  I had said that I wouldn't be doing any dyeing in January, but these are extenuating circumstances.   Is there anything you'd like to see from me?  Dyed or embroidered or tarted up in glorious Euro ribbons?  Please let me know!

It's a tree

Today I had a shopping adventure with a friend and Miss Moo.  I needed to go to Jurlique because I'd run out of some things, so we went to Chatswood Chase.  Wow, it has been ages since I'd been there, and it has changed a lot!  

We had a good look around at the shops.  In Shack they had these woodland trees with lights at half off.   The lovely homewares shop at Round Corner had these trees, but I just couldn't justify the full price.   At half price I just had to buy it.  For ages I've been wanting a tree for us to decorate at the holidays, but I didn't want a traditional Christmas tree.

I was going to put it away for next year, but Col suggested that we make sure that it worked first.  So out it has come.  And now Mollie is making decorations for it out of paper.   I'm thinking the tree is going to need some of these for next year.  I'm definitely going to make a tree skirt for it.

The evil temptress arrived

And she brought me


Every time I got an email from Williams-Sonoma advertising their peppermint bark, I kept thinking I should ask V to buy me some, but I'm trying to be good about what I'm eating, so I resisted the urge.  But a good friend knows what you really like!

See!  She brought us this for New Years Eve!



V also brought me a couple of books that I ordered from Amazon.
All Dolled Up - because now that we have two American Girl dolls, I thought we needed patterns, patterns and more patterns.  I have a few ModKid AG doll patterns, but I like having options.


And Metric Pattern Cutting for Women in case I want to get adventurous with sewing for moi.



I hope you had a fabulous Christmas.  We are really looking forward to NYE this year, and no, it's not because of the bottle of champagne!  It's because our little group will be together again.  Our friends are here from Chicago, and the other missing piece will be up from Melbourne.  Nothing like good food, good laughs and great friends.